Part-Time Photographer

Oakland County is more than just a workplace. It is a place where you can make a real difference. As one of Michigan’s leading public service organizations, we are committed to strengthening communities, delivering essential services, and improving the quality of life for nearly 1.3 million residents. When you join our team, you become part of a mission-driven workforce guided by integrity, innovation, and a passion for public service.

About the Role

This is a hybrid position that includes a combination of remote and in-office work, with travel to onsite locations throughout Oakland County based on photography assignments, events, and departmental needs. Oakland County’s Department of Public Communications is seeking a Part-Time Photographer to document the people, programs, places, and events that tell the story of Oakland County. This is an opportunity to combine technical photography skills, creativity, and journalistic instincts to create meaningful visual content for our communities.

Responsibilities

• Photograph County events, programs, employees, elected and appointed officials, community members, facilities, and other subjects for communications, marketing, and informational purposes.
• Produce a variety of photography, including events, portraits, documentary and photojournalistic storytelling, community and lifestyle imagery, and buildings and facilities.
• Use your visual storytelling instincts to recognize, anticipate, and capture authentic moments, meaningful details, and perspectives that help tell the larger story.
• Work confidently and independently in live-event and field environments, adapting to different subjects, locations, lighting conditions, and changing priorities.
• Apply your knowledge of composition, lighting, exposure, and color to consistently produce professional, publication-ready images across a variety of settings and subjects.
• Work comfortably with people in both candid and directed situations while professionally representing Oakland County with employees, officials, community partners, and members of the public.
• Collaborate with writers, designers, videographers, and social media professionals to identify visual opportunities and create photography that supports broader communications goals.
• Select, edit, and color-correct images using Adobe Lightroom, Photoshop, or comparable professional tools, preparing files for social media, websites, publications, marketing campaigns, and other digital and print platforms.
• Organize, caption, tag, and deliver photography according to established workflows while managing multiple assignments and deadlines.
• Work a flexible part-time schedule based on assignments, including occasional early mornings, evenings, or weekends, and travel to locations throughout Oakland County.
• Occasionally assist with basic video capture or other visual content needs.
• Use creativity to produce new ideas and concepts for the county’s marketing and communications, including brochures, signage, flyers, booklets, annual reports, billboards, logos, slide presentations, exhibits/displays, illustrations, and digital graphics for websites and social media.
• Communicate with various departments to understand their marketing needs for various projects and create graphic design options based on a creative brief or campaign goals.
• Work collaboratively with other graphic designers, video production crew, and marketing coordinators and be open to receiving and giving constructive feedback to achieve the highest quality materials.
• Use good time management, organizational skills, and the ability to work on multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Use a digital camera to capture photographs, then edit, stylize, tag, and prepare for print or digital applications.
• Ensure projects are completed in a timely manner with a quality product using industry-standard graphic design best practices.
• Utilize current Countywide and/or department-specific software to complete assignments.

Requirements

• Possess an Associate’s Degree or equivalent from an accredited college or university with a major in graphic arts, graphic design, commercial art, or a closely related art field.
• Have two (2) years of full-time work experience in graphic preparation, including layout and design preparation of camera-ready artwork, desktop publishing, or a closely related area.
• Note: Possession of a Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university with a major in any of the fields described above may substitute for the experience requirement.
• Note: Additional work experience as described above may substitute for the educational requirement on a year-for-year basis.

Qualifications

• Prior experience working in a wide range of marketing functions, including branding, communications, advertising, digital marketing, and content creation, is preferred.
• Considerable ability to demonstrate forward-thinking and apply current trends using excellent verbal and written communication skills to excel in a fast-paced environment.
• Considerable knowledge of typography, photography, printing procedures, color separation, design principles, web design, and video production.
• Considerable ability to work within structured deadlines.
• Considerable ability to manage multiple projects.
• Considerable ability to establish and maintain effective working relations with administrators, other employees, vendors, and the general public.
• Considerable ability to make routine decisions in accordance with established departmental policies and procedures.
• Considerable knowledge of and ability to utilize current word processing, spreadsheet, database, email, and internet software.
• Reasonable ability to follow complex written and oral instructions.
• Ability to communicate to accurately convey information.
• Ability to use digital and photographic graphic design equipment and software.

Benefits

We offer competitive pay, comprehensive benefits, and the opportunity to do meaningful work that matters. Your photography will help tell meaningful stories about Oakland County, showcasing the people, programs, and communities that make an impact every day. You’ll enjoy a wide variety of assignments and environments, from community events and candid moments to portraits, programs, and facilities throughout the County. You’ll work alongside writers, designers, videographers, and social media professionals as part of a collaborative creative team that values strong visual storytelling, new ideas, and constructive feedback. Your work will be featured across social media, websites, publications, marketing campaigns, news materials, and other County communications, giving you the opportunity to build and showcase a diverse professional portfolio.

Pay

$29.32 - $39.28 per hour